Knock-down hogshead



Patented May 9, 1933 WILLIAM B. .FOREMAN', OF ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA KNOCK-DOWN HOGSHEAD Application filed January 11, 1932. Serial No. 586,034.

I Tobacco is usually shipped in cylindrical containers or hogsheads composed of a series of staves, heads and retaining bands of a well known structure. Tobacco after being so packed is subject to inspection for merchandising purposes, to grade quahty, etc which makes it necessary to remove one or more of the staves to expose the contents. The replacement of such stavesand subsequent repair of the hogshead after inspection entails considerable trouble, labor andexpense. Such containers are not adapted to be reused. a

An object of my invention is to provide a hogshead or container for the purpose that can be readily opened for inspection of the contents thereof and easily restored to closed condition without material injury to the container. Another object and advantage of my hogshead resides in its simplicity of structure, comprising only four basic parts, rendering it adapted to be knocked-down for convenience in storing or for returnlng to the packer for re-use. Further objects of my invention reside in a means for temporarily confining the sections of my hogshead during assembling and in adjustable means for permanently confining and securing the sections when completed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which is made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hogshead constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the means for temporarily confining the sections.

Figure 2, an enlarged detail view of one of the confining means, and

Figures 3 to 14 inclusive illustrate various methods for retaining the top and bottom bands after the hogshead has been filled.

In the preferred embodiment of my in vention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the hogshead is composed of two sections or panels of laminated plywood 10 and 11 of a width equal to the height of the hogshead and a length slightly greater than half of the circumference thereof. These sections are adapted to overlap attheir ends to form a substantially cylindrical body portion. Each section is reinforced midway by a strip of similar plywood 12 and 18 secured permanently thereto as by Wire stitching 6 These strips are for the purpose of protecting the hogshead from damage when being rolled or handled by dogs andtools employed for the purpose. The hogshead is closed at its ends by disksor heads 14of heavy plywood which seat against a series of blocks 15 secured at intervals along the inner edges of the sections 10 and 11. The heads 14 are finally retained by means of a strip 16 nailed to the inner edge of the sections. Each section 10 and 11 is reinforced along its top and bottom edges on the outside with metal binding strips 17 and 18, which protect the edges of the plywood and carry the locking means to be described later. v

In assembling the hogshead, the sections 10 and 11 are bent to substantially semicircular form and the bottom head is placed in position with the ends of the sections overlapping each other. The binding strips 17 and 18 are then secured together in the following manner. The end of'strips 17 are bent to form an eye 21 to receive a cotter pin 22 upon which is hinged a metal strip 23 perforated adjacent its free end as at 24; The strip 18 is provided with a series of perforations 25 one of which is adapted to register with the perforation 24 to receive a nail 26 which passes throughthe section 11 and band 16 and is clinched on the inside thereby securing the sections in locked position, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. r f i To facilitatev the assembling of the hogshead, clips 27 are provided'to hold the upper edges of the sections 10 and 11 While the lower edges are being adjusted. These clips 27 comprise a strip of stiff metal bent S-shape, each loop adapted to fit over the edge of each overlapping section to hold them in the proper relation until the wire hoops 28 are firmly set. They are then removed and the securing devices 28 assembled.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a form of securin means in which a metal strip 29 is hinged to the binding strip 17 with its freeend passed through one of a series of slots 30 in the binding strlp 18 and bent backward and secured to the inside by a nail 31 to the section 11. 7

Figures 7 8 and 9 show another form of securing means in which a metal strip 32 is hinged to the binding strip at one end, passes through a slot 33 in section 11 and is provided in its free end with a series of openings 34 adapted to register with a stud 85 projected through the section 11. A cotter pin 36 retains the strip on the stud.

Figures 10 and 11 show still another form in which a threaded rod 37 is secured to the end of the binding strip 17, passes through a slot 38 in section 11 then through an opening in a stud 89 projected through the section 11. A knurled nut 40 is run upon the rod to exert the proper tension.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a different form of securing means in which the binding strip 17 is provided with a narrow ex tension 41 having a series of open diagonal slots v42 cut in its underside adapted to register with a headed pin 43 secured to the strip 18.

Figure 14 shows a form in which an extension of binding strip 17 is provided with a series of oval openings 44 adapted to hook over the head of a pin 45 carried by the strip 18.

In the use of a hogshead provided with any of these securing devices, it is only necessary in order to inspect the contents to detach the fastening means and cut the wirebails 28 thereby opening the side of the package and exposing the contents to view. The hogshead can be closed again after inspection and the same securing devices used again. After the hogshead has beenemptied the heads-may be nested, also the side sections in knocked-down form and returned to the shipper.

While I have described this as a tobacco hogshead it will be understood, of course, that it may be used in the shipment of any products for which it may be suited.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what isshown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated by'the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A knocl -down hogshead comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical plywood sides, metal reinforcing bands secured to the upper and lower edges of said sides and adjustable means for securing the adjacent ends of said bands together comprising a member connected to the end of one band, a perforation in the free end of said member, a series of perforations in the. other band and adapted to register with said perforation in said member, said registered perforations adapted to receive a pin or nail for securing them together, substantially as set forth.

2 A knockdown hogshead comprising a pair metal reinforcing bands secured to the upper and lower edges of said sides, and adjustable means for securing the adjacent ends of said bands together comprising a member connected to the end of one band, a series of slots in the other band, said member adapted to pass through one of said slots and be bent backward and anchored, substantially as set forth.

3. A knock-down hogshead or keg comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical sides of plywood, circular one piece heads, metal reinforcing bands secured to the upper and lower edges of said sides, adjustable means for securing the adjacent ends of said hands together, and temporary means for preventing the collapse of the top of said hogshead while securing the bottom thereof comprising a strip of stiff sheet metal bent S-shape and adapted to clamp over the overlapping ends of said cylindrical sides, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a plywood hogshead composed of separate panels bent to form of S-shaped metal clips engaging the adjacent edges of the panels, whereby they are supported while the package is being formed, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a hogshead composed of panels of plywood bent to form with their meeting edges overlapping of S- shaped clips engaging the edges of the respective panels at the overlapping joints, whereby said panels are supported while the package is being formed, substantially as set forth.

6. A knock-down hogshead comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical plywood sides, a re-inforcing strip of plywood secured midway of said sides, metal re-inforcing bands carried by said sides, a member hinged to one end of each of said bands, perforations in the other ends of said bands, and securing means associated with said member and said perforations for securing said ends together, substantially asset forth.

7. A knock-down hogshead comprising a of semi-cylindrical sides of plywood,

pair of semi-cylindrical plywood sides, a reenforcing strip of plywood secured midway of said sides, metal re-enforcing bands carried by said sides and provided with eyes formed on one end thereof, members secured to the other ends of said bands and provided with eyes formed on the free ends thereof, and a removable pin associated with said eyes for securing said ends together, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Washington, District of Columbia, this 20th day of November, A. D. nineteen hundred and thirty-one.

WILLIAM B. FOREMAN. 

